The Cobblers travelled to Compton Park on Wednesday to face Cogenhoe United in their second pre season game of 2012.

The game got underway in glorious sunshine as a good number of fans turned out for this local fixture.

Northampton started the game brightly, and had an early effort on the 7-minute mark. Good build up from the Cobblers saw a Lewis Wilson effort curl just over the bar after a neat kock-down from Adebayo Akinfenwa had set him up.

Soon after, Akinfenwa put the men in green in to the lead after a sweeping move saw Michael Hoganson find time and space on the left. He made the most of this and expertly whipped in a cross to the unmarked Akinfenwa who finished neatly at the back post.

Cogenhoe almost responded immediately when Lewis Leslie played in Perry Wells. Wells had looked to get the better of trialist keeper Connor Roberts, only to see his clever lob hit the bar.

The Cobblers dominated possession thereafter and Michael Hoganson doubled the lead on 34 minutes. He cut in from the left and fired a shot into the top corner, giving the keeper no chance.

Just minutes later, Akinfenwa once again played in a team-mate, this time Paul Turnbull, who saw his one on one effort saved by the Cogenhoe goalkeeper's legs.

Northampton continued to keep the ball well with Cogenhoe putting in plenty of work off the ball, as the Cobblers went into the break leading 2-0.

The second half began with both sides looking for an opening, before Hoganson got his second, and Cobblers third of the game on 56 minutes. Jake Robinson used his pace on the right wing, beating the defender before placing an inch perfect cross to the trialist who made no mistake from inside the 6-yard box.

The 60-minute mark saw Aidy Bothroyd make a number of changes to the side.

Northampton were keeping the ball well, and on 74 minutes Alex Nicholls came close to opening his account for the Cobblers. He got past his marker well, but saw his shot creep narrowly past the post.

3 minutes later he did find the net though when subsitutes Ishmel Demontagnac and Nicholls combined to get the’ fourth goal of the evening. Demontagnac showed his pace as he skipped past the Cogenhoe defence, only for his curling effort to be parried by goalkepeer Darren Smith. Nicholls was on hand to tap the rebound home for his first goal in a Northampton shirt.

The Cobblers continued to dominate the game and came close to extending their lead as they ran out 4-0 winners. They now look forward to Saturday, where they will welcome a Chelsea side to Sixfields in their first home pre-season fixture of the summer.

COGENHOE MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)